It’s not just the weather that’s presenting a problem for drivers this winter, hauliers and transport operators have been warned to take extra care after a rise in fuel theft leaves many worried about what may happen next.

Two major cases have been identified this month alone, with £7,000 of diesel emptied from a fuel tank in North Yorkshire and £3,000 worth of fuel siphoned out of three coaches in Norwich.

There’s no doubt that a strong link can be made between rising fuel prices and rising crime. One survey shows that 64 percent of all LGV thefts were fuel related, bringing the total number of cases to over 1,600 last year. This represents a 17 percent year on year rise, a number that looks set to increase further as fuel prices remain high. Now more than ever, fuel is an extremely valuable commodity and unfortunately one which is increasingly attractive to thieves.

Not only is the high value of fuel stolen a huge loss, but the damage inflicted on vehicles as a result of thefts, could potentially cripple businesses who simply can’t afford the repairs.

The Fuelcard Company’s Marketing Director, Jakes de Kock comments: “We’re seeing an increase in cases of thieves drilling through vehicle fuel tanks to access fuel. The cost of replacing both the tank and the fuel could mean ‘make or break’ for some transport businesses.”

The Fuelcard Company warns anyone handling large volumes of fuel to be extra vigilant against thieves and put further security in place to stop them in their tracks.